Another McDonalds opens in BiH

Locals flock to the opening of a new McDonalds store in
Tuzla.
(Source: Klix.ba)

The ribbon was cut on a new McDonalds store in Tuzla on Friday, making it the fourth city in Bosnia-Herzegovina where the fast food giant has opened its business since last year.

Dozens of Tuzla locals - particularly youths - turned up for the opening of the store, which adds to the McDonalds outlets already operating in Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka.

Tuzla's McDonalds is just the fifth of its kind to be unveiled in BiH, after the first was opened in August 2011 in Sarajevo - which now has a second store that has since been built.

The construction of this latest franchise to hit the country is said to have taken more than 18 months to build and cost more than 2 million Bosnian convertible marks ($1.27 million AUD).


Although the store has employed around 50 staff, its opening is sure to draw criticisms from many across BiH (as was seen in Banja Luka last month), with some suspicious of the sales of what they see as unhealthy (or, ahem, 'shit') food. Further to that, many are critical of the very existence of McDonalds in the country due to the belief it will take away business from many locals, who now have to compete with the multi-billionaire franchise.

... and, it has to be said, it's a fair point they make.

I mean, one just has to look at all the money that will be splashed at Tuzla's McDonalds by people who could instead be spending that cash at the city's other food-shops; which are actually run by locals (often simply trying to make ends meet), compared to the 'comfortable' businessmen or shareholders who have a stake in McDonalds.

However, at the same time, if people have the own money to spend, shouldn't they be freely able to buy and eat whatever they want?

Regardless, if you ask me as a customer, the choice between the two is very simple.

Spending 2 or 3 convertible marks for a delicious and fresh burek; or blowing about 7 or 8 marks on a McDonalds meal (that makes you feel a bit crappy afterwards and, in all honesty, doesn't really fill you up anyway)?

Come on, give me a tougher proposition. This is too easy!

(PS. After writing this, I am sure I am not the only one; food, anyone?)